Mexico and coal

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that Mexico "produced 11.9 Mt of coal in 2007, which was an increase of 9% compared with production in 2006. The international price of coal increased by 73% in 2007, which increased the value of coal production in Mexico by 15% to $459 million. Coke production, however, not including imported metallurgical coke, decreased by 2.1%." Of the coal produced, approximately 4.75 million tonnes was metallurgical coal and 7.1 million tonnes steam coal for use in power stations and other steam units.

Coal reserves
The USGS reports that "the distribution of reserves among Mexico’s main coal concession holders was as follows:
 * Minera Carbonifera Rio Econdido S.A de C.V. (Micare) (affiliated with Grupo Acerero del Norte S.A. de C.V.), 53%;
 * Materiales Industrializados S.A. de C.V. (MINSA), 38%;
 * Grupo Mexico, 5%; and
 * Carbonifera de San Patricio S.A. de C.V., 4%.

Coal mining
The USGS lists the major coal mines in 2007 as being:


 * Mimosa coal mine and the Palau coal mine in Coah which combined produced approximately 3 million tonnes. The coal from the mines is processed at the Muzquiz washing plant at Palau, Coah., and the coking plant at Monclova, Coah. The mines are operted by Minera Monclova, S.A. a wholly owned subidiary of Altos Hornos de México, S.A. de C.V AHMSA;


 * the Progreso coal mine in Coah which produced approximately 1.3 million tonnes. The mine is owned by the privately owned company Carbonifera de San Patricio, S.A. de C.V.;


 * Industrial Minera México, S.A. de C.V. (IMMSA)the Nueva Rosita coal mine in Coah which produced approximately 1.5 million tonnes. The mine is owned by Industrial Minera México, S.A. de C.V. IMMSA, a 90% owned subsidiary of Grupo Mexico; and


 * The Mina I coal mine and the Mina II coal mine at at Nava and the Tajo I coal mine at Piedras have a combined output of 6.5 million tonnes. The mines are wholly owned subsidiaries of AHMSA.

Mine blast kills 6 miners
A blast at an artisanal coal mine in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila, trapped 14 miners on May 3, 2011.

"There are 14 miners trapped plus one person injured" in the wake of the 7:00 a.m. blast, Jesus Maria Montemayor Garza told Radio Formula. Authorities have yet to make contact with the trapped men and rescue efforts remain on hold because the levels of methane gas are still almost triple the range considered safe, according to Montemayor.

A day later on May 4, 2011 it was reported that of the 14 miners trapped, 6 were pronounced dead and 8 others were still missing.

Coal-fired power stations financed by international public investment institutions
Coal-fired power stations financed by international public investment institutions include:
 * Petacalco power station, Mexico

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Global use and production of coal
 * International Information on Coal